End of Summer

from behind the morning clouds
the sun appears, drying the rain
that fell during the humid night;
puffs of wind move quickly through
the bushes and trees whose leaves
have already turn upside down;
a butterfly flutters by on its way
to unknown destinations while
hummingbirds fight for nectar;
cats curled up and breathing heavy
do not notice the birds that study
the movements of their claws;
tiny spiders feast on flies that
have been caught in their webs
that are seldom visible at night;
fake flowers collect insects as the
dust collects on their pedals and
their beauty fades from the sun;
skies turn grayish white then darken
as the rain approaches the valley
and outside activities are abandoned;
newly installed rail caps have already
become weathered in the short time
that they have been exposed outside;
school bells no longer ring but the
students are inside brick buildings
learning to social distancing rooms;
labor day has come and past as it
has done so many times before
alerting us all the end of summer.

31 August 2020